Method and apparatus for providing a bonus to a player based on a credit balance

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method allow a value of a credit balance on a gaming device to be determined. If the value is not less than a predetermined threshold, a benefit is provided to the player of the gaming device. In various embodiments, the benefit may be, e.g., an increase in the player&#39;s credit balance.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation of, claims priority to and thebenefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/911,761, filed on Jun. 6,2013, which is a continuation of, claims priority to and the benefit ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/419,306, filed on Apr. 18, 2003, nowU.S. Pat. No. 8,480,482, which claims priority to and the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/373,749, filed on Apr. 18,2002, the entire contents of which are each incorporated by referenceherein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to electronic game machines and moreparticularly, to a system and method for motivating additional game playby providing a benefit to a player for maintaining a high creditbalance.

BACKGROUND

A primary goal of a casino is to keep its customers playing as long aspossible since longer play generates higher revenues. Casinos are thusinterested in maintaining player interest and excitement. When a playerscredit balance on a game machine is reduced to zero, the player willoften stop playing the game machine. Casinos would prefer that a playernot reduce his credit balance to zero and stop gambling. There areseveral ways in which casinos currently attempt to motivate players tocontinue gambling, such as by building entertaining games that havelarge jackpots and favorable payout tables. Another way casinoscurrently attempt to motivate players to continue gambling is to providecomp points and other benefits to a player for placing bets at a gamemachine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example system according toone embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a game machine in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a controller in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a sample table from a session log databasestored in a data storage device in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a sample table from a benefit database stored in adata storage device in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a sample payout table stored in a data storage devicein accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a sample indication table from an indication databasestored in a data storage device in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow-chart depicting a method of providing a benefit to aplayer based on a condition in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 9 is a flow-chart depicting a method of providing an indication toa player based on a condition in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Introduction

Systems and methods according to the present invention allow a gamemachine owner, such as a casino, to provide various benefits to playersto motivate them to maintain higher credit balances on a game machine.In such a system, one or more game machines are connected to acontroller. After a player begins playing on a game machine, thecontroller will determine certain conditions present with respect tothat game machine and that player's game session. The controller willthen provide a benefit or an indication that a benefit will be providedif the credit balance is increased, such as a video message, that abenefit will be provided to the player based on the presence of certainconditions.

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative game machine network 100 for the exchangeof information between one or more game machines 120-140 and acontroller 110. According to a feature of the invention, controller 110determines the presence of a condition on one or more game machines120-140, and provides a benefit to the player based on the presence ofthe condition. According to another feature of the invention, controller110 determines the presence of a condition on one or more of gamemachines 120-140 and provides an indication to a player based on thepresence of the condition. It will be readily understood by those ofskill in the art that the functions described herein as performed by thecontroller 110 may additionally or alternatively be performed by one ormore game machines, and vice versa.

Game machine network 100 includes controller 110 networked via acommunications network 150 to game machines 120-140. Although FIG. 1.only shows an exemplary network of three game machines, any number ofgame machines may be in connection with controller 110.

As used herein the term “game machine” is defined to include a terminalthat a player uses to play a game of chance. Game machines 120-140 maycomprise conventional game machines modified to carry out the functionsand operations contemplated by embodiments of the invention anddescribed below. Examples of game machines 120-140 include but are notlimited to: a slot machine, a video poker terminal, a pachinko machine,a table-top game, a personal computer, a telephone, and a portablehandheld gaming device. In embodiments of the invention addressing tablegame play such as blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, Keno, Bingo, andthe like, the game machine may be hardware located at the game tablesuitable for entering player identifiers or average bet sizes.

The term “controller” is defined to include a computer system operatedby the casino, which may communicate with one or more game machines120-140. Controller 110 is depicted in FIG. 3. Controller 110 maybeembodied as a server which comprises conventional server computerhardware, such as an RS 6000 manufactured by IBM Corp. Controller 110may also be a computer which comprises general computer hardware.Controller 110 executes software instructing the hardware to executeunique functions and operations in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention. Controller 110 and game machines 120-140 exchangedigitally encoded data messages to one another through communicationnetwork 150.

Communication network 150 facilitates exchanges of data between gamemachines 120-140 and controller 110. Game machine network 100 mayinclude one or more communication networks, such as communicationnetwork 150, to allow one or more of the following exchanges of data tooccur: 1) the controller 110 may transmit information to game machine120, 130, or 140; and 2) game machine 120-140 may transmit informationto controller 110. Possible communication networks 150 include but arenot limited to: a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN),the Internet, a telephone line or a cable line, a radio channel, anoptical communications line, or a satellite communications link.Possible communications protocols include Ethernet, Bluetooth, andTCP/IP. Furthermore, the exchanges of data may be encrypted to ensureprivacy and prevent fraud.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the architecture of an illustrativegame machine 120, 130, or 140 as indicated in FIG. 1 and provided inaccordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, game devices120-140 include processor 200, which is connected to memory 210, randomnumber generator 220, input device 230, output device 240, paymentsystem 250, and communications port 260. These components and theirarrangement may be conventional, though they may be, e.g., programmedappropriately to perform the methods described herein. Communicationport 260 provides a connection for linking game machine 120, 130, or 140to controller 110. Processor 200 communicates with controller 110through communications port 260. Communications port 260 is incommunication with controller 110 through communications network 150.

Output device 240 is a device that may be used to output informationfrom game machine 120-140 to a player. Examples of output device 240include but are not limited to: a video monitor, a light-emitting diode(LED), an audio speaker, an electric motor, a printer, a coupon orproduct dispenser, an infra-red port, a Braille computer monitor, a coinor bill dispenser. For game machines, common output devices include: acathode ray tube (CRT) monitor on a video poker machine; a bell on aslot machine; a light emitting diode (LED) display of a player's creditbalance on a slot machine; a liquid crystal display (LCD) of a personaldigital assistant (FDA) for displaying keno numbers, and a printer toprovide a cashless gaming receipt for a player's gambling credits.

Input device 230 is a device that may be used to receive an input from aplayer. Examples of input device 230 include but are not limited to: acomputer keyboard, a computer mouse, a touch screen, a microphone, avideo camera, a magnetic stripe reader, a biometric input device, aradio antenna, a voice recognition module, a coin or bill acceptor. Forgame machines, common input devices include: a button or touch screen ona video poker machine; a lever on a slot machine; a billvalidator/acceptor; a magnetic stripe reader to read a player trackingcard inserted into a slot machine.

Game machine 120-140 may include payment system 250 that performs atleast two main functions: 1) accepting payment from a player; and 2)providing payment to a player. Payment is not limited to money but mayalso include other types of consideration, including but not limited toproducts, services, and alternate currencies such as casino chips.Exemplary methods of accepting payment from a player include: 1)receiving hard currency; 2) receiving an alternate currency such as apaper gaming voucher, a coupon, or a casino token; 3) receiving apayment identifier such as a credit card number, a debit card number, ora player tracking card number; and 4) determining that a player hasperformed a value-added activity, such as answering survey questions.Exemplary methods of providing payment to a player include: 1)dispensing hard currency; 2) dispensing an alternate currency such as apaper gaming voucher, a coupon, or a casino token; 3) crediting a playeraccount such as a bank account or other financial account; and 4)providing a product or service to the player such as a jackpot prize.

With respect to gaming operations, game machines 120-140 may generallyoperate in a conventional manner. The player starts the machine byinputting a payment into payment system 250 or into input device 230,such as inserting a coin, or using an electronic credit. Under controlof a program stored, for example in memory 210, processor 200 initiatesthe particular game. In the alternative, processor 200 may operate theparticular game under control of a program stored in controller 110.Processor 200 may communicate with controller 110 through communicationsport 260. In running the game, processor 200 may instruct random numbergenerator 220 to generate a number which will affect the particular gameoperating on game machine 120-140. As the game is operated, processor200 may output information through output device 240 in accordance withthe instructions in memory 210 or controller 110. Processor 200determines outcome of the play and may provide a payment through paymentsystem 250 depending on the outcome of the play. Processor 200 may thenprovide information regarding the game session to controller 110 throughcommunications port 260. Communications port 260 is in communicationwith controller 110 through communications network 150.

A player may operate multiple gaming machines 120-140. For example: aplayer may simultaneously play two side-by-side game machines; a playermay play a reel game machine and then continue his gambling session at avideo poker machine. A player may also use a telephone or other deviceto remotely operate a game machine. In an alternate embodiment, a gamemachine may allow a player to play a game of skill rather than a game ofchance.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of controller 110 as indicated in FIG. 1 andprovided in accordance with the present invention. Controller 110 is acomputer system which may communicate with one or more game machines120-140. Controller 110 includes certain standard hardware components,such as processor 200, a clock (not shown), Read Only Memory (ROM) (notshown). Random Access Memory (RAM) (not shown), communications port 330,storage device 340, input device 310, and output device 320. Processor200 may be embodied as a single processor, or a number of processors.Processor 200 may exchange data with the iterated components either bymeans of a shared bus, or dedicated connections. Communications port 330connects controller 110 to game machines 120, 130, and 140, viacommunications network 150.

Unlike conventional computer systems, controller 110 executes one ormore programs 350 to perform the functions contemplated by embodimentsof the invention as described below and stores several databases (360,370, 380, and 390) relating to those functions and operations. Theprograms and databases are stored in storage device 340. These databasesinclude session log database 360, benefit database 370, payout table380, and indication database 390.

Session log database 360 provides a repository of events that took placeon game machine 120-140 during individual playing session. FIGS. 4A and4B show a possible organization of session log database 360. Session logdatabase 360 maintains a plurality of records, such as records 445-448,each associated with a different game session. For each session by alogged event 410, session log database 360 includes: (1) amount creditedor debited field 415; (2) resulting credit balance field 420; (3)whether the resulting balance is 120 coins or more field 425; (4)whether the balance rises above 130 coins field 430; and (5) whether a$10 bill was inserted field 440. The above are examples of conditionsthat may be present and which would allow a player to receive a benefit.For example, with respect to field 425 (whether the resulting balance is120 coins or more), a player may receive a benefit if his credit balanceis greater than or equal to 120 coins. The data stored in session logdatabase 360 is used with the methods contemplated by embodiments ofthis invention and described below.

According to one embodiment, information about a credit balance orchanges in a credit balance such as field 415 (amount credited ordebited) and field 420 (resulting credit balance) may be stored insession log database 360. As illustrated in record 445 and record 446, aplayer inserted a $20 bill into a game machine and then received a bonusof 5 coins for inserting this $20 bill.

Each time a debit or credit is made to a credit balance, this change maybe recorded in session log database 360. Field 420 (resulting creditbalance) keeps track of the credit balance that results from each event.As is shown in record 447 and field 415 (amount credited or debited forrecord 447), a credit of 40 coins was added to a credit balance. Thisvalue may be added to field 420 (resulting credit balance) from theprevious record 445 to determine the resulting credit balance field 420for when the player inserts a $10 bill into the bill acceptor, field447.

Session log database 360 may also store indications of whetherconditions are true. These conditions may be based on, but are notlimited to, the following: 1) a current credit balance on a gamemachine; 2) decreases in a credit balance; 3) increases in a creditbalance; 4) historical values of a credit balance and 5) various averagebalances. For example, fields 425, 430, and 440 indicate whether aparticular condition is true or false for any particular logged event.

Benefit database 370, provides a table of information concerningbenefits that may be provided to a player based upon certain conditions.The data stored in benefit database 370 may be useful in determining abenefit based on a condition relating to a credit balance on gamemachine 120-140. Benefit database 370 may be used to track conditionsthat may be present during a game session and determine what benefit toprovide if a condition is true. FIG. 5 shows a possible organization ofbenefit database 370. Benefit database 370 maintains a plurality ofrecords, such as records 540-560 each associated with a benefit. Foreach benefit identified by benefit identifier 510, benefit database 370includes: the condition for providing a benefit 520, and the descriptionof the benefit 530. The benefit identifier 510 is a unique assigned keythat can be used to refer to the particular benefit throughout thesystem. The “Condition for providing benefit” column 520 lists theparticular condition under which a particular benefit will be provided.A variety of different types of conditions are possible, based on butnot limited to the following: 1) a current credit balance on a gamemachine; 2) decreases in a credit balance; 3) increases in a creditbalance; 4) historical values of a credit balance; and 5) variousaverage balances. Furthermore, the conditions may be stored in thecondition benefit database 370 in a variety of different formats. Thesewill be further discussed below. A benefit may be selected to be outputto a player if the condition corresponding to that benefit is true. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 5 if a player inserts a $10 bill into a billacceptor, field 520 for record 560, then the player may receive abenefit of 2 coins added to his credit balance as indicated by field 530for record 560.

Payout table 380 provides a table of payouts should a certain outcome bedetermined. FIG. 6 shows a possible organization of payout table 380.Payout table 380 is a database which maintains a plurality of records,such as records 650-670, each associated with a different possible gameresult. For each possible game result identified in outcome field 610,payout table 380 includes an indication of the expected number of hitsfor the outcome 620; an indication of a payout that may be provided ifthe outcome occurs and a credit balance is less than 120 coins 630; andan indication of a payout that may be provided if the outcome occurs anda credit balance is 120 coins or more 640. Most payout values will beincreased as the credit balance is adjusted from less than 120 coins tomore than 120 coins, though it is also possible that one or more payoutvalues could decrease. For example, the BELL/BELL/BAR record 650 valuedecreases slightly if a player has a credit balance of greater than 120coins as is shown in field 640 (payout if balance is 120 coins or more)for record 650. The revised payout table, (particularly field 640) maybe made available to a player as a benefit for having a particularcondition satisfied, i.e. more than 120 coins or more in the aboveexample.

Indication Database 390 stores information which may be useful indetermining an indication to output to a player based on a conditionrelating to a credit balance on game machine 120-140. FIG. 7 shows apossible organization of indication database 390. Indication database390 maintains a plurality of records, such as records 740-760 eachassociated with a different indication. For each indication identifiedby an indication identifier in field 710, indication database 390includes: a condition for outputting the condition 720 and theindication to be provided 730. The data stored in indication database390 may be useful in determining an indication to provide a player basedon a condition relating to the credit balance on game machine 120-140.Indication Identifier 710 is a unique assigned key that can be used torefer to the particular indication throughout the system.

“Condition for providing indication” column 720 lists the particularcondition under which a particular indication will be provided.Conditions may be based on a variety of different factors including butnot limited to: 1) a current credit balance on a game machine; 2)decreases in a credit balance; 3) increases in a credit balance; 4)historical values of a credit balance; and 5) various average balances.Furthermore, conditions may be stored in a variety of different formswhich will be further discussed below. An indication may be selected tobe output if a condition is true. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, if aplayers credit balance falls below 120 coins, the player will beprovided with an indication that “your balance is now less than 120coins, so you no longer qualify for the modified payout table. Toincrease your balance and get increased payouts, insert more money.”

The operation of game machine network 100 will be described with respectto two different aspects. First, game network 100 operates to motivate aplayer to achieve and/or maintain higher balances. Second, game machinenetwork 100 operates to provide a player with an indication that abenefit may be provided if the credit balance is increased. Theseoperations may occur concurrently to provide benefits and indications ofbenefits.

The operation of game network 100 will be described with respect to twodifferent aspects. First, game network 100 operates to provide a playerwith a benefit. Second, game network 100 operates to provide a playerwith an indication of a benefit. These operations may occur concurrentlyto provide benefits and indications.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a player receives abenefit based on a condition relating to a credit balance on a gamemachine. This embodiment of the invention identifies a conditionrelating to a credit balance on a game machine and provides a benefitbased on the condition. FIG. 8 is a flow diagram representing a methodimplementing one embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 8, thecontroller 110 must first identify a condition relating to a creditbalance on a game machine operated by a player (step 810); then thecontroller 110 determines if the condition is true (step 820). If thecondition is true, the controller 110 will provide the benefitassociated with the condition (step 830). Alternatively, the gamemachine 120, 130,140 may perform some or all of the steps performed bycontroller 110 alone or in communication with controller 110.

The system identifies a condition relating to a credit balance on a gamemachine operated by a player (step 810). This step involves firstidentifying a credit balance and next identifying a condition. Thecredit balance can be measured in a variety of ways including but notlimited to: 1) a number of coins; 2) an amount of an alternate currency;and 3) an amount of money. According to one embodiment of the invention,the controller 110 may identify at least one credit balance on at leastone game machine 120, 130, or 140. In another embodiment of theinvention: a player may simultaneously operate two game machines, andthereby two credit balances, one on each machine. The controller 110identifies the two credit balances. In yet another embodiment of theinvention, a single game machine 120, 130140 may have two associatedcredit balances which controller 110 identifies. For example, gamemachine 120, 130, or 140 may store a first credit balance correspondingto money that a player has inserted into the game machine and a secondcredit balance corresponding to promotional credits that have beenprovided to the player. In another embodiment of the invention, two ormore game machines 120-130 may share a single credit balance whichcontroller 110 identifies. For example, a husband and wife may share asingle credit balance that is stored in database 340 at controller 110.The husband may operate a first game machine that debits wager amountsfrom the credit balance, and the wife may operate a second game machinethat debits wager amounts from the credit balance. Prizes won by eitherthe husband or the wife may be credited to the credit balance. In analternative embodiment, a player's credit balance on a game machine,which controller 110 identifies, may be linked or merged with afinancial account belonging to the player such as, a bank account, adebit card account, a credit card account. In yet another alternateembodiment, controller 110 may not identify a credit balance on a gamemachine. For example, it is possible to determine that a credit balancehas increased by $10 without knowing the value of the credit balancebefore or after the event. The credit balance may be stored in sessionlog database 360.

According to step 810, in addition to identifying the credit balance,controller 110 also identifies a condition. Conditions may be based on avariety of different factors including but not limited to whethercurrent credit balance is: 1) greater than a certain value; 2) less thana certain value; 3) equal to a certain value; or 4) within a range ofvalues.

Alternatively, a condition may be based on a change in credit balanceincluding: 1) a credit balance decreases by a certain amount; 2) acredit balance falls below a certain value; 3) a player “cashes out” orwithdraws at least a portion of a credit balance; 4) a player ispenalized, causing his credit balance to decrease; or 5) a linked ormerged credit balance or other financial account may be unlinked orotherwise removed such as removing a link between a credit card balanceon a game machine and a credit card account.

A condition may also be based on an increase in a credit balance suchas: 1) a credit balance increases by a certain amount, e.g., from apayout; 2) a credit balance rises above a certain value; 3) a playerinserts currency into a game machine; 4) a player increases his creditbalance by accepting a subsidy offer; 5) a credit balance is linked ormerged with a second credit balance or a financial account such asagreeing to merge his credit balance with a credit balance of a secondplayer on a second game machine or a player linking his credit balanceon a game machine with his credit card account.

A condition may also be based on historical values of a credit balancesuch as whether: 1) a credit balance has been greater than a certainvalue for a specified duration; 2) a credit balance has been less than acertain value for a specified duration; 3) an average credit balance isgreater than a certain value; 4) an average credit balance is less thana certain value; 5) differences between various credit balances. Aduration may be specified in a variety of ways. One way a duration maybe specified is by time. For example, a condition may be that a creditbalance has been greater than 100 credits for the past 1.5 hours.Another way a duration may be specified is by number of games. Forexample, a condition may be that an average credit balance over theprior 80 handle pulls (plays) is greater than $20. Another way aduration may be specified is by bounding the duration by at least oneevent such as a jackpot or other outcome. For example, a condition maybe that a credit balance has been more than 200 credits since the playerlast won a jackpot. In a second example, a condition may be that anaverage credit balance since a player last won a jackpot is greater than100 tokens.

According to one embodiment of the invention, controller 110 mayidentify a plurality of conditions. For example: 1) a player may receivea benefit if a credit balance is greater than 100 credits (a firstcondition) and the player inserts a $20 bill into a game machine (asecond condition); and 2) a player may receive a benefit if a creditbalance rises above 120 coins (a first condition) and the credit balancehas been less than 120 credits for the last 1 hour (a second condition).

After identifying the credit balance and the condition relating to thecredit balance, the controller 110 may determine whether a condition istrue (step 820). The following is a description of a variety of waysthat the controller 110 may determine whether a condition is true.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the controller 110 maydetermine that a condition is true by evaluating a Boolean expression.This Boolean expression may, e.g., reference one or more variables andmay include Boolean modifiers and conjunctions (e.g. AND, OR, XOR, NOT,NAND), comparators (e.g., >, <, =, >=, <=, !=), mathematical operations(e.g. +, −, *, /, mean, standard deviation, logarithm, derivative,integral), and constants (e.g. $10, 20 coins, 300 credits, 0.02, 15%,pi, TRUE, yellow, “raining”). Examples of Boolean expressions include:

(credit_balance>=100);  1)

(credit_balance>=120) AND (credit_balance<=200);  2)

(change_in_credit_balance>1) AND (credit_balance>300);  3)

(previous_credit_balance<200) AND (new_credit_balance>=200);  4)

(credit_balance>200) AND (NOT (minimum_balance_last_hour<100)); and  5)

(average_balance_entire_session>100) OR(average_balance_last_50games>200).  6)

According to another embodiment of the invention, controller 110 maycompare a credit balance to at least one threshold value. For example,if a credit balance is greater than 100 coins, then a player may receivea benefit.

Lastly, controller 110 may provide a benefit to a player based on thecondition (step 830). Step 830 includes first determining which benefitto provide and then providing the benefit. Controller 110 can determinewhich benefit to provide by using information located in benefitdatabase 370 as shown in FIG. 5. For example, record 560.BEN-38-18068-03, indicates that 2 coins will be added to the creditbalance if a $10 bill is inserted into the bill acceptor. Alternatively,controller 110 may provide a set of benefits to the player if acondition is fulfilled. The player can then select the particularbenefit by inputting his selection through input device 230. Once thebenefit has been determined, controller 110 will provide the benefit tothe player. In addition, controller 110 may notify the player of thebenefit by providing notification through output device 240. In oneembodiment, this would include providing payment through payment system250.

According to one embodiment, the step of determining a benefit may alsobe based on one or more additional factors or conditions. While a widevariety of factors are possible, some examples of additional factorsinclude: 1) factors relating to the player's gambling activities; 2)factors relating to the player's visit to a casino; 3) factors relatingto the player's other activities; 4) factors relating to benefits thathave been provided; 5) factors relating to other players. Examples offactors relating to the player's gambling activities include: 1) theplayer's past gambling activities; 2) the player's present gamblingactivities; 3) the player's anticipated future gambling activities; 4)metrics of the player's gambling activities; and 5) the player'spreferences. Examples of factors relating to the player's visit to thecasino include: 1) people who accompanied the player to the casino; 2)whether the player has reserved a hotel room at the casino; 3) purchasesmade by the player at the casino; and 4) the duration of the player'svisit to the casino. Examples of factors relating to other activitiesperformed by a player: 1) complimentary products or services received bythe player; 2) subsidy offers accepted or rejected by the player. Forexample, a total dollar value of benefits that a player has received.According to one embodiment, there may be a limit on a value of benefitsthat a player may receive. Factors relating to the other players aresimilar to the factors listed above. Examples of other playersassociated with the player include: 1) a player who is operating anearby slot machine; 2) a player who is sharing a room with the player;3) a player who arrived on the same bus as the player; 4) familymembers, friends, and other associates of the player.

According to one embodiment, the controller 110 may receive informationabout factors from a variety of sources, including: 1) game machines andtheir associated input devices; 2) input devices; 3) casino employees;4) databases accessible by the controller 110. In another embodiment,the controller 110 may receive indications from one or more gamemachines operated by the player, as well as from game machines operatedby other players.

Once controller 110 determines which benefit is associated with aparticular condition, controller 110 will provide the benefit to theplayer. Various types of benefits may be provided to the playerincluding but not limited to: 1) benefits relating to payouts; 2)benefits relating to probabilities of game outcomes; 3) game advantages;4) money; 5) financial benefits; 6) benefits relating to a cost perwager; 7) complimentary awards; 8) merchandise; 9) non-negotiabletokens; 10) discounts; 11) entertainment; 12) services; 13) benefits toa party associated with a player.

Examples of benefits relating to payouts include but are not limitedto: 1) top jackpot increased; 2) top jackpot paid as a lump sum insteadof installment over time; 3) extra coins for a given outcome; 4) extracoins for all outcomes; 5) extra coins for a subset of outcomes; 6)extra coin payouts during bonus rounds; 7) extra coins added at cashout;8) extra bonuses added at cashout; 9) providing a payout where therepreviously was none.

Examples of benefits relating to probabilities include but are notlimited to: 1) probability of top jackpot increased; 2) probability ofall payouts increased; 3) probability of a subset of outcomes increased;4) probability of negative outcomes decreased; 5) probability ofentering bonus round increased; 6) ability to re-spin one of the reels;7) additional bonus symbols added to one or more reels; 8) probabilityof one more bonus symbols being selected increased; 9) removal ofnegative symbols from one or more reels; 10) joker or other wildcardadded to a deck of cards; 11) after an initial video poker hand isdealt, cards not helpful to a player's hand may be removed fromremaining deck; 12) second draw allowed in video poker; 13) a payouttable may be modified (e.g., as shown in FIG. 6).

Examples of benefits in the form of game advantages include but are notlimited to: 1) ability to summon game characters to modify outcomes; 2)game characters become more powerful or have enhanced tools; 3) hintsprovided during bonus round games as to optimal selections; 4) strategyhints provided during bonus rounds; 5) faster accumulation of collectedgame symbols (e.g. more rapid accumulation of slices of a pie which paysa bonus when the whole pie is completed). Examples of benefits of moneyinclude: 1) credits may be added to a player's credit balance on a gamemachine; 2) a game machine may dispense at least one coin or bill; 3) arecurring payment may be provided to a player (e.g., a player mayreceive 10 credits per hour for each hour that he keeps his balanceabove 100 coins); 4) a financial account belonging to a player may becredited (e.g., a bank account, a credit card account).

Examples of financial benefits include but are not limited to: 1)interest earned on average balance for each handle pull; 2) interestearned on average balance for a session; and 3) interest earned onhighest balance achieved over session. Examples of benefits relating toa cost per wager include but are not limited to: 1) decreased cost perhandle pull; 2) free spins every X handle pulls; 3) extra paylinesenabled at reduced cost (or free); 4) extra hands provided in multi-playvideo poker; 5) top jackpot enabled without requirement of max coin; 6)free spins—as long as the player keeps a minimum balance of at least $25or 100 coins in a 25 cent machine, he receives a free spin any time hewins a payout of more than 20 coins; 7) free jackpot only spins—theplayer receives 3 free jackpot only spins any time he has the minimumbalance in the machine and wins a payout of more than 20 coins.

Examples of complimentary awards include but are not limited to: 1)double or triple comp points; 2) rate of cash back earned increased; 3)fewer coins-in required to earn one comp point. Examples of merchandiseinclude: 1) promotional items such as hats, key chains, t-shirts, etc.;2) subscriptions to magazines; 3) prepaid phone cards. Examples ofnon-negotiable tokens include coins which have no redemption value butcan be used in slot machines/table games to win real tokens.

Examples of discounts include but are not limited to: 1) percentagediscounts on food, beverage, rooms, show tickets at the casino; 2)discounts at casino logo shop; 3) discounts on merchandise at a casinoowned shopping mall.

Examples of entertainment-related benefits include but are not limitedto: 1) free/reduced price phone calls; 2) access to music MP3s; 3) videoclips; 4) movie trailers; 5) access to Internet; 6) access to premium(paid) Internet site.

Examples of services that may be provided as benefits include but arenot limited to: earning gold player status which allows: faster drinkservice, unlimited line passes, later checkout times, ability to lock upmachine for an extended period of time, access to premium gaming areas,access to priority reservations system, and room upgrades.

According to one embodiment, a benefit may be provided to a partyassociated with the player (e.g., a friend of the player, a familymember, a charity).

Although the method of the invention has been described as providing abenefit based on a condition, the invention may also comprise providingan indication to the player that a benefit may be provided if the creditbalance is increased or maintained above a certain threshold. Inaddition to providing a benefit, the controller 110 may provide anindication based on a condition. FIG. 9 is a flow diagram representing amethod of providing an indication based on a condition to a player. Asshown in FIG. 9, the steps 910 and 920 are identical to the first twosteps in FIG. 8, steps 810 and 820 regarding providing a benefit to theplayer. These steps have already been described above. First thecontroller 110 must identify a condition relating to a credit balance ona game machine operated by a player (step 910); then the controller 110determines if the condition is true (step 920). If the condition istrue, the controller 110 will provide the indication associated with thecondition. Alternatively, the game machine 120-140 may perform some orall of the steps performed by controller 110 alone or in communicationwith controller 110.

In alternative embodiments of this invention, the steps discussed abovewith regard to FIG. 9 may be practiced independently of the stepsdescribed above. In one embodiment, a benefit may be provided based on acondition, but no indication may be output based on the condition. Forexample, a player may receive a benefit of a better payout table if hiscredit balance is greater than 120 coins. In an alternative embodiment,a benefit may be provided based on a condition, and an indication may beoutput based on the same condition. For example, a player may receive abenefit of a better payout table if his credit balance is greater than120 coins. An indication may be output to the player, “Since yourbalance is greater than 120 coins, your winnings will be determinedbased on this modified payout table.” Another embodiment is that thebenefit may be provided based on a first condition, and an indicationmay be output based on a second condition. For example, a player mayinsert $5 into a slot machine, increasing his credit balance from $3.25to $8.25. Since the player increased his balance by $5 (a firstcondition), he may receive a benefit of a free spin on the slot machine.However, since the player's credit balance rose to a value between $8and $10, an indication may be output to the player, “If you increaseyour balance to more than $10, then you get 3 free spins.” In a secondexample, a player's credit balance on a game machine may fall from 132to 129 coins. Since the player's current credit balance of 129 coins isgreater than 120 coins, the player may receive a benefit of a betterpayout table. However, an indication may be output to a player becausehis credit balance fell below 130 coins, “If you increase your balanceto more than 130 coins, then you will get 2 free coins.” Another exampleis that an indication may be output based on a condition, but no benefitmay be provided based on the condition. For example, a player's creditbalance on a game machine may fall from 122 to 119 coins. Based on thiscondition, an indication may be output to a player, “Your currentbalance is less than 120 coins! Increase your balance to continue usingthe better payout table.” One common embodiment is to provide benefitsfor increases in a player's credit balance, but to output indicationsfor decreases in a player's credit balance. Of course, many otherembodiments are also possible.

In determining the indication (part of step 930), controller 110 may usethe information stored in indication database 390, shown in FIG. 7. Forexample, record 740. IND-081234498-03, shows that if a $10 bill isinserted into a bill acceptor, the following indication will be provided“IF YOU INSERT ANOTHER $10, YOU'LL GET 3 MORE COINS AS A BONUS.”

Different types of indications based on a condition include but are notlimited to: 1) an indication of the condition; 2) an indication of howto change the condition; 3) an indication of a benefit to be providedbased on the condition; 4) an indication of a threshold value that ispart of the condition. According to one embodiment, controller 110 mayoutput an indication of a condition. For example, “Your credit balanceis less than 120 coins” or “Your credit balance just rose over 50coins.”

According to one embodiment, controller 110 may output an indication ofhow to change a condition. For example, “Insert more money to increaseyour credit balance,” “You can maintain a higher average credit balanceby inserting more money before your credit balance drops to zero,” or“You get a free spin each time you insert a $10 bill.” According to oneembodiment, a game machine 120-140 or the controller 110 may output anindication of a benefit that may be provided or not provided based onthe condition. According to one embodiment, the controller 110 maydetermine a benefit to be provided based on a condition by accessing abenefit database such as the one shown in FIG. 5. Examples ofindications of benefits include but are not limited to: “If your creditbalance is more than 120 coins, then you get a better payout table”; and“Based on your credit balance, you get a bonus of 2 free jackpot-onlyspins.”

According to one embodiment, controller 110 may output an indication ofa threshold value to which a credit balance or other variable iscompared. Examples include: 1) “Your credit balance is less than $20. Ifyou increase your credit balance to more than $20, you'll get a freeticket for a dinner buffet”; and 2) “Your average credit balance for thelast hour is 134.5 coins, which is greater than 100 coins, so you get afree spin.”

According to one embodiment, controller 110 may also output anindication of at least one other condition or at least one otherbenefit. For example, “Your credit balanced increased past 200 coins, soyou get a 10 coin bonus” or “If you increase your balance over 300coins, then you get a 15 coin bonus.”

According to one embodiment of the invention, an indication of acondition may be output to a player using at least one output device 240on a game machine 120-140. An indication based on a condition may beoutput in a variety of different forms, including but not limited to: 1)text—for example, a message may be displayed on a video screen; 2)audio—for example, a ‘beep’ sound may be output anytime a lesson isdisplayed on a video screen; 3) video for example, an image or sequenceof images (e.g., a movie) may be displayed to a player using a videoscreen; 4) binary—for example, a light emitting diode (LED) on a slotmachine may act as a warning light—lighting up if a condition is false(and a player may not receive a benefit) and turning off if thecondition is true (and a player may receive a benefit.); and 5) througha partition window. According to one embodiment, a partition may be avideo screen or an area of a video screen that is used to displayrelated information. Examples of partitions include but are not limitedto: headers, footers, sidebars, windows, overlays, and pop-up windows.For example, a header may overlaid across the top of a video screen.This header may display messages to a player describing conditions thatoccur and benefits that are provided to the player.

According to one embodiment, various visual cues may be used to draw aplayer's attention to an indication that is displayed. Examples ofvisual cues include but are not limited to: color, fonts, highlighting,transparency, and animation. For example, an indication may be output asa text overlay on a video screen showing spinning slot machine reels.

In another embodiment, a portion of a game may be modified to provide anindication. For example, icons on the reels of a slot machine may bemodified to provide an indication to a player. In a second embodiment,an indication may be output by changing the design of a deck of cards invideo poker. Furthermore, an avatar, virtual assistant, or otheron-screen character may be displayed to a player in conjunction with anindication. For example, an animated rabbit may be displayed on videoscreen and “talk” to a player based on conditions. Indications from therabbit may be provided as both text, or as audio.

According to one embodiment, a plurality of indications may be output.Examples include but are not limited to: 1) a text message, “You get afree spin each time you insert a $10 bill” may be displayed in a pop upwindow, and a bell may ring; 2) a light bulb may flash and a red textmay be overlaid on a video screen “Your credit balance has been over 100coins for the last hour, so you get a bonus of 3 free jackpot-onlyspins. If you keep your balance above 100 coins for another hour, thenyou'll get 4 more free jackpot-only spins.”

ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENTS

According to one embodiment, a first player may receive a benefit basedon a credit balance maintained by a second player. For example, abrother and his sister may both play game machines at a casino. If thebrother maintains a balance of more than 100 credits on his slotmachine, then both he and his sister may receive a free spin every 20games. In this case, controller 110 would store information based on therelated players in data storage device 340 and use that information inorder to run the steps iterated above on at least two game machines120-140.

Examples of first players associated with second players include but arenot limited to: 1) players operating a nearby slot machine; 2) playerssharing a room; 3) players who arrived on the same bus; 4) players fromthe same family, group of friends, and other group associations.

According to one embodiment, an indication based on a first player'scredit balance may be output to a second player. Outputting anindication to the second player may motivate the second player toencourage the first player (e.g., to increase his credit balance, or tocongratulate him on maintaining a high credit balance). Hence controller110 would provide an indication through the output device of player twobased on a condition of player one's game session.

According to one embodiment, when the player requests cash out (e.g., bypressing a ‘CASH OUT’ button on the gaming device) the gaming deviceprovide the player with an offer for a benefit in exchange formaintaining a minimum credit balance. To be attractive and moreacceptable, the benefit should typically (though not necessarily) belarger than previously offered/provided benefits for comparable playerbehavior.

According to one embodiment, a player may be provided with benefitsbefore he meets conditions required for those benefits. The player mightinstead promise to meet those conditions in the future.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the system and method of thepresent invention without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention. For example, the databases prescribed above may reside in oneor more databases stored in the data storage devices of either the gamemachine 120, 130, or 140 or controller 110. The present invention coversthe modifications and variations of this invention provided they comewithin the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A gaming system comprising: atleast one input device; at least one display device; at least oneprocessor; and at least one memory device which stores a plurality ofinstructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, causethe at least one processor to operate with the at least one displaydevice and the at least one input device to: (a) determine an amount ofa credit balance, (b) if the determined amount of the credit balance isat least a first amount: (i) enable a first wager amount to be placed ona first play of a game, and (ii) if the first wager amount is placed:(A) reduce the determined amount of the credit balance by the firstwager amount, and (B) for the first play of the game:  (I) randomlydetermine a first game outcome,  (II) display the randomly determinedfirst game outcome,  (III) determine, based on a paytable associatedwith the first wager amount, any first game award associated with therandomly determined first game outcome, and  (IV) display any determinedfirst game award, said credit balance being increasable based on anydetermined first game award, and (c) if the determined amount of thecredit balance is less than the first amount and a condition issatisfied: (i) determine whether to display a second play of the game,(ii) if the determination is to display the second play of the game, forthe second play of the game: (A) reduce the credit balance by thedetermined amount of the credit balance, (B) randomly determine a secondgame outcome, (C) display the randomly determined second game outcome,(D) determine, based on the paytable associated with the first wageramount, any second game award associated with the randomly determinedsecond game outcome, and (E) display any determined second game award,said credit balance being increasable based on any determined secondgame award, and (iii) if the determination is to not display the secondplay of the game, reduce the credit balance by the determined amount ofthe credit balance.
 2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the firstamount is a historical value associated with the credit balance.
 3. Thegaming system of claim 1, wherein the first amount is a thresholdamount.
 4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the threshold amount isa maximum wager amount of the first play of the game.
 5. The gamingsystem of claim 1, wherein the condition is satisfied in response to atleast one player input following a display of an indication associatedwith the credit balance.
 6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the determined amount of the credit balance, the firstwager amount placed on the first play of the game, any determined firstgame award and any determined second game award is at least one selectedfrom the group consisting of: a quantity of monetary credits, a quantityof non-monetary credits, a quantity of promotional credits, and aquantity of player tracking points.
 7. The gaming system of claim 1,which includes a housing, and a plurality of input devices supported bythe housing, said plurality of input devices including an acceptor, anda cashout device, wherein when executed by the at least one processor,the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor tooperate with the plurality of input devices to: if a physical item isreceived via the acceptor, modify the credit balance based, at least inpart, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,and if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause aninitiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.
 8. A gamingsystem server comprising: at least one processor; and at least onememory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which whenexecuted by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processorto: (a) determine an amount of a credit balance, (b) if the determinedamount of the credit balance is at least a first amount: (i) enable afirst wager amount to be placed on a first play of a game, and (ii) ifthe first wager amount is placed: (A) reduce the determined amount ofthe credit balance by the first wager amount, and (B) for the first playof the game:  (I) randomly determine a first game outcome,  (II) causeat least one display device to display the randomly determined firstgame outcome,  (III) determine, based on a paytable associated with thefirst wager amount, any first game award associated with the randomlydetermined first game outcome, and  (IV) cause the at least one displaydevice to display any determined first game award, said credit balancebeing increasable based on any determined first game award, and (c) ifthe determined amount of the credit balance is less than the firstamount and a condition is satisfied: (i) determine whether to display asecond play of the game, (ii) if the determination is to display thesecond play of the game, for the second play of the game: (A) reduce thecredit balance by the determined amount of the credit balance, (B)randomly determine a second game outcome, (C) cause the at least onedisplay device to display the randomly determined second game outcome,(D) determine, based on the paytable associated with the first wageramount, any second game award associated with the randomly determinedsecond game outcome, and (E) cause the at least one display device todisplay any determined second game award, said credit balance beingincreasable based on any determined second game award, and (iii) if thedetermination is to not display the second play of the game, reduce thecredit balance by the determined amount of the credit balance.
 9. Thegaming system server of claim 8, wherein the first amount is ahistorical value associated with the credit balance.
 10. The gamingsystem server of claim 8, wherein the first amount is a thresholdamount.
 11. The gaming system server of claim 10, wherein the thresholdamount is a maximum wager amount of the first play of the game.
 12. Thegaming system server of claim 8, wherein the condition is satisfied inresponse to at least one player input following a display of anindication associated with the credit balance.
 13. The gaming systemserver of claim 8, wherein at least one of the determined amount of thecredit balance, the first wager amount placed on the first play of thegame, any determined first game award and any determined second gameaward is at least one selected from the group consisting of: a quantityof monetary credits, a quantity of non-monetary credits, a quantity ofpromotional credits, and a quantity of player tracking points.
 14. Thegaming system server of claim 8, wherein the credit balance isincreasable via an acceptor of a physical item associated with amonetary value, and decreasable via a cashout device configured toreceive an input to cause an initiation of a payout associated with thecredit balance.
 15. A method of operating a gaming system, said methodcomprising: (a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality ofinstructions to determine an amount of a credit balance, (b) if thedetermined amount of the credit balance is at least a first amount: (i)enabling a first wager amount to be placed on a first play of a game,and (ii) if the first wager amount is placed: (A) causing the at leastone processor to execute the plurality of instructions to reduce thedetermined amount of the credit balance by the first wager amount, and(B) for the first play of the game: (I) causing the at least oneprocessor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determinea first game outcome, (II) causing at least one display device todisplay the randomly determined first game outcome, (III) causing the atleast one processor to execute the plurality of instructions todetermine, based on a paytable associated with the first wager amount,any first game award associated with the randomly determined first gameoutcome, and (IV) causing the at least one display device to display anydetermined first game award, said credit balance being increasable basedon any determined first game award, and (c) if the determined amount ofthe credit balance is less than the first amount and a condition issatisfied: (i) causing the at least one processor to execute theplurality of instructions to determine whether to display a second playof the game, (ii) if the determination is to display the second play ofthe game, for the second play of the game: (A) causing the at least oneprocessor to execute the plurality of instructions to reduce the creditbalance by the determined amount of the credit balance, (B) causing theat least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions torandomly determine a second game outcome, (C) causing the at least onedisplay device to display the randomly determined second game outcome,(D) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality ofinstructions to determine, based on the paytable associated with thefirst wager amount, any second game award associated with the randomlydetermined second game outcome, and (E) causing the at least one displaydevice to display any determined second game award, said credit balancebeing increasable based on any determined second game award, and (iii)if the determination is to not display the second play of the game,causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality ofinstructions to reduce the credit balance by the determined amount ofthe credit balance.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first amountis a historical value associated with the credit balance.
 17. The methodof claim 15, wherein the first amount is a threshold amount.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, wherein the threshold amount is a maximum wageramount of the first play of the game.
 19. The method of claim 15,wherein the condition is satisfied in response to at least one playerinput following a display of an indication associated with the creditbalance.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of thedetermined amount of the credit balance, the first wager amount placedon the first play of the game, any determined first game award and anydetermined second game award is at least one selected from the groupconsisting of: a quantity of monetary credits, a quantity ofnon-monetary credits, a quantity of promotional credits, and a quantityof player tracking points.
 21. The method of claim 15, wherein thecredit balance is increasable via an acceptor of a physical itemassociated with a monetary value, and decreasable via a cashout deviceconfigured to receive an input to cause an initiation of a payoutassociated with the credit balance.
 22. The method of claim 15, which isoperated through a data network.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein thedata network is an internet.